Manure-distributer.



PATENTED JULY 21,1908.

S. H. GARST.

MANURE DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1905.

5 SH HTS-SHEET l.

No. 893,621. PATENTED JULYZI, 1908.

S. H. GARST. MANURE DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19. 1905.

No. 893,621. PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

3.11. GARST. MANU-RE DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

BIO-893,621. I PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

S. H. GARST. MANURE DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.1 9. 1905.

WITNESSES INVBJYTOK 5-SHEETS-SHBBT 4.

No. 893,621. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908. v s. H: GARS'T.

,MANURE DI'STRIBUTER.

APPLIOATION'FILBD'JA N.19 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

w R4 4 W NH WIT/V5555 s STEPHEN H. GARST,

OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A

PATENT enrich.

ASSIGNORTO AMERICAN HARROW COMPANY,

. I MANUBE-DISTRIBUTEB.

N0. seaem.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 190 8.

Application filed January 19, 1905. Serial No. 2%,826.

To all whom 'it' may concern:

Be it known that i, S'rnrnnN H. GARST, residing at Detroit, in the countiy of \Vayne and State of Michigan, a citizen 0 the United States, have invented certain new and use--.

ful Improvements in Manure-Distributors, of which the following is a specification,

reference being had therein to the accommachine. Fig.-'3 is a sectional plan. Fig.

" sections of the movable bottom.

a longitudinal section through the rear end 4 is a perspective view. of one of the supporting bearings for the axle. Fig. 5 is a cross section, illustrating the manner of supporting the movable bottom. Fig. 6 is. a perspective view of the sprocket and automatic chain disengaging mechanism for operating the movable bottom. Figs. 7*, 7 7 9 illustrates in plan in side elevation and end elevation, the sprocket shown in Fig; 6, together with the chain in engagement therewith. Figs. 8, 8 is. a plan and modified form of the connections between the Fig. 9 is of'the frame and movable bottom. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the connection for the adjustable end, gate. Fig. 11 is an eleVation at right angles to Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating the automatic chain take up device. Fig. 13 is a plan viewof a portion of the chain connection.

In comprises a box wagon, in which the material is loaded, provided with a movable bottom and a follower at the forward end thereof together with mechanism for drawing the bottom; and follower rearward. A rotary distributor is arranged at the rear end of the wagoin and is adapted to be revolved simultaneously with the rearward movement of the bottom and follower, so as to pitch the material over the end of the wagon as the latter moves forward. When the follower reaches the rear end, the drive mechanism is automatically reversed, so as to again return the follower to the for- Fig. 2 1s a.

eneral construction, the distributor 1ward end, ready for the reception of another oad.

One of the features of my present im provement is the construction of a body in which A is a substantially U-shaped frame comprisin side sills a and a forward cross sill b. This frame is su iported upon the forward and rear'bolsters and C and is also cross connected b a number of bars D, D and D The si es E of the body rest upon the sills a and are held in position thereon by the posts F which are attached to the sides of the sills.

The bottom of the wagon aseries of cross bars G, which are hinged to each other; so as to permit of drawing the bottom rearward and returning the forward portion thereof below the wagon box. As

shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the sections G are connected to each other by links H which are .pivoted to each other ate and are also pro- .vided with supporting anti-friction rolls d. These rolls are adapted to engage longitudinally extending tracks I, mounted upon the bolsters and cross bars of the wagon frame. Four of these tracks are illustrated in the drawings andthe central pair I, I have shown as formed of flat metallic bars 6 secured to the sides of the longitudinally extending wooden bars These bars f serve to further strengthenthe wagon frame, especially in the central portion where subjected to the strain of moving the platform. At the forward end of the platform is a wider sectiortfi, upon which is mounted a follower J. This, as shown consists of the u right osts g, the cross bar It and the curve plate t, which latter extends across the wagon body adjacent to the o posite sides thereof.

K is a shaft journaled 1n bearings near the ends of the sills (1, upon which are mounted the rotary heads around which the sections G of the bottom are adapted to ass.

L is a rack comprising the inc med bars 7c arranged beneath the sills aupon which the endsv of the sections G are su ported during the rearward movement of t fie'wagon bottom and follower. The bars lc onl extend forward for a part of the length of t esills'a, terminating so as to provide clearance for the turning of the front truck of the wagon. This does not provide sufficient space for the reception of a of the sections of the wagon bottom and to further extend the storage space, curved bars M are arranged at the foe ward end of the arm L, which extend for a j ournaled at the side ofthe wagon body and is connected with a larger sprocket R which wheels ward beneath the bars) of the wagon frame and are bent u ward to a sufficient degree to clear the whee s of the forward truck, when turned.

'With the construction above described, it will be understood that the wagon bottom, when moved rearward, is returned beneath the wagon frame and is supported upon the rack L and extension M thereof. The movement of these parts is effected by mechanism of the following construction :'Adj acent to one of the rear wheels N of the wagon is a sprocket wheel 0, which is ada ted to be driven by the movement of said w eel during the forward travel of the wagon. P 'is a iprocket chain for engaging with the sprocket which at one end passes around a sprocket P and at its opposite end around asprocket P which latter is mounted upon a pivotal arm P connected by a link Q with a controlling lever Q the arrangement being such that by movement of the lever Q, the arm P may be swung upward or downward, so as to disengage or engage the sprocket chainli and the sprocket O. The sprocket wheel P is engages with a chain R extending around a sprocket R on the shaft R The latter is mounted in bearings formed in brackets R secured in the side sills a and projecting upward therefrom, the shaft extending completely across the wagon body and having mounted thereon a distributing reel, which will be hereinafter described At the o 130- site end of the shaft R is a crank S, to w ich is connected a pitman rod S extending forward and connected with. a lever S 1 This lever is centrally fulerunied at l to the side of the wagon body and is ada ted to be reciprocated by the rotation o the crank S through the medium of the pitman S. T and T are link rods connected at one end with rock arms T fulcrumed on the shaft K and adjustably connected to the lever S upon 0 posite sides of its fulcrum. The rock arms carry double awls T which are adapted to engage wit ratchet wheels T each having double and o positely faced sets of teeth and secured to tlie shaft K, so that reciprocation of the lever S and consequent reciprocation of the rock armT will cause the rotation of the shaft K through the medium of the awls T engaging with the ratchet Thus, the rotation of the wheel N during the forward movement of the wagon, will be transmitted through the s rocket 0, .chain P, sprockets P and R, 0 rain R and sprocket R to the shaft R and the rotation of the latter will actuate the crank S, pitman S and lever 5*, so as to cause the opposite reciprocation of the rods T and T and the alternate actuation of the ratchet wheels T, which rotate the shaft K.

seat W on the wagon The shaft K has mounted thereon the sprocket wheel U, which engages with an endless chain U, extendin to the forward end of the wagon frame an around an idler s rocket U This chain is connected witht c section G of the bottom, so that the rotatron of the shaft K will cause the movement of the bottom and follower J -As has been stated, in the operation of-the machine, the traveling bottom and follower must first be moved rearward during the distribution of the load and then returned to the original osition ready to receive another load. This necessitates the reversing of the direction of the rotation of the shaftK and this is effected automatically upon the comletion of the rearward movement of the folower through the following mechanism V is a spring arm arranged adjacent to the ratchet wheel T preferably extending between said wheels, as shown in Fig. 3'. V is a cross head secured to the end of the bar V and V are arms attached to the awls T and extending into the path of t e cross head V. V is a catch lever adapted to enage with the end of the bar V and hold the atter in a depressed position, and under tension. V is a link connecting the catch lever V with a trip lever V", which latter extends in the path of a lug V on the section G of the wagon bottom. The construction of parts is such that whenever the lug V actuated thetrip lever. V, this occurring at the completion of the'rearward movement of the follower, the catch. lever V will be withdrawn from engagement with the spring bar V, whichwill ermit the latter to 'fiy ulpward, causing t e cross head V to strike t 1e arms V thereby rocking the awls T so as to chan e the direction of fee of the ratchet wheels a consequence, a reverse rotation Will be imparted to the shaft K and sprocket U, vwhich will cause the follower and we on bottom to be returned. r

- t hasbeen stated that the movement of the lever Qwhich is ad'acent to the drivers ody, will cause the swinging of the arm P so' as to engage or disen age the s rocket chain P and sprocket 0. Thus, the di'iver'can, at any time, throw the mechanism driven through the chain P,

in or out of '0 eration by the adjustment of the lever an after the load has been distributed and the bottonrand follower returned, this lever being moved to stop the ,mechanism. Inasmuch, however, as it would be difficult for the driver to throw the mechanism out of operation at the exact instant when the follower has completed its return movement, I provide means whereby any further movement of the mechanism after the return of the follower will automatically disen age the sprocket U from the cham U, therel sy preventing breaka' e of parts. This mechanism is ,of the fol owing construcchain p, which passes around the shaft 70 upon opposite sir es of the sprocket. Thus,

. the chain will only be driven during the engagement of the sprocket with the sections m and as soon as the last link of this section disengages from the sprocket, which occurs at the completion of the return movement of the follower, the chain becomes stationary. When, however, the chain m is thrown out of engagement with the sprocket, it cannot be reengaged. merely by the reverse movement of said sprocket and I have therefore providedmeans for effecting this rengagement, which are of the following construction:-q are ratchet wheels upon opposite sides of the sprocket U and double 0 ain p. r are cross bars connecting the two portions of the doublechain p and extending into engagement with the ratchet wheels 9. The latter are preferably provided with only two teeth or shoulders, which are arranged to en gage with the cross bars "1" during the initial rotation of the shaft K in the direction for driving the bottom and follower rearward. In the reverse rotation of the shaft, the cross bars 1 will not be driven'but will merely be moved outward by a am portion 9 connecting the two te'cth. Thus, after the section m of the chain disengages from the sprocket in the forward movement of the follower, any

1 further rotation of the shaft K will not drive the chain but immediately upon the reversal in the direction of rotation, the ratchet wheels g, engaging with the cross bars 7, will draw upon the chain so as to reengage the sections m thereof with the sprocket.

The spreading or distribution of the material is efiected by a rotary fork or tined spreading wheel, which is mounted upon the shaft it, as has been described. This spreading wheel preferably comprises polygonal heads's mounted upon the shaft R to which are attached. cross bars 8, each cross bar being provided with a series of radially projecting tines s. The wheel is revolved during the operation of the mechanism driven by the chain P in the direction inwhich the tines 8 travel upward on the inner side of the wheel, 'i. e. adjacent to the material in the wagon box.

To regulate the amount of feed, an adjustment is provided for changing the speed of travel of the wagon bottom and follower and,

X in either position of ad'ustment. spring also serves to yieldingly hold the tines u from lateral movement, a limited move- -ment of the tines beingpermitted by the 'mit a movement of the pivots v.

further, a retaining fork X is arranged adj acent to the distributing wheel which regulates the amount fed thereby. This retaining fork X is preferably of the following construction:t are brackets secured to the side boards of the wagon body, each of which has pivotally secured thereto a pair of rock arms 25 and 25 u is a cross bar forming a rake head and provided with projecting tines u; said bar being pivot lly supported at the outer end of the arms and t being pivoted on tand slidingly connected to-t The construction is such that by swinging the arms 15. and t cross bar a and tines u may be adjusted into the positions shown, either in dotted lines in Fig. 1, where the ends of the tines are adjacent to the wagon bottom, or in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, where the ends of the tines are adjacent to the distributing wheel and are arranged in an inclined position. In the latter position, the tines u are preferably slightly spaced from the tines s of the distributing wheel, so that the material carried by the latter can pass out through this space, but the tines u will prevent the passage of more than the desired amount. :u is a sp'ringconnected to the cross bar u and to the wagon body, being so arranged to the pivots of the arms t and t so as to hold the retainer fork This slot 11' in the arms t with which the pivotal connection from the bar it engages.

The speed of travel of the bottom and fol lower may be varied by adjusting the engagement of the links Tand T with the lever S towards or from the fulcrum of said lever. To lace this adjustment under the control of t e driver, a lever Y is placed adjacent to j the drivers seat and is connected by a rod Y and link Y with a bell crank lever Y This lever is arranged adjacent to the lever S and is of substantially T-shaped form, the two oppositely extending arms of the T being connectedby links Y and Y with the ends of the links T and T, respectively. Thus,

by adjusting the lever Y, the lever Y is rocked, so as to draw the links T and T towards or from the fulcrum of the lever S said lever being longitudinally slotted to per- It is obvious that farther out, the links T and T are adjusted adjacent to the levers S and thus, a greater movement will be imparted to' the rock arms T and to the shaft'K and sprocket U. On the other hand, whenthe links are adjusted nearthe center or fulcrum of the lever, the movement is reduced to the minimum. 4 y

The rear bolster C is preferably formed of two separated cross bars w and w and a shaft or axle w is secured to these cross bars pitch it from the rear end of the wagon as it by a central bearing w The opposite ends of the shaft are l also journaled in bracket bearings m which are also provided with flan es 3: bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to t e side sills a and with the horizontal flanges 00 secured to the under side of the bars to 'and w. This construction forms both a strong support forthe wa on frame and a construction in which the s aft 10 is held from flexing by the two under bearings and the center bearing 10 The parts being constructed as shown and described, in operation, the initial adjustment of parts is as shown in Fig. 1, where the follower J is at-the forward end of the wagon body and the wagon bottom extends for the complete length of the'body. The retainer X is also adjusted, so as to form a gate at the rear end of the wagon body adjacent to the spreader wheel. A load of the materialto be spread is then placed in the wagon box and carried to the place where it is to be distributed. Before distributing, the operator draws up the'retainer X into the position shown in Fig. 2, the movement being. imparted by the cord X extending into and in proximity to the drivers seat W., .He then adjusts the lever Q, so as to rock the rock arm P and throw the chain P into engagement with the sprocket Wheel 0. This will impart movement of the drive train, revolving both the shaft R and the shaft K, the former'rotating the distributing wheel and the latter the sprocket U,'which actuates the chain U andcauses the rearward feeding of the bottom and of the follower J. This movement will gradually feed the load rearward and, as fast as it is thus fed, the tines s of the distributing wheel will pick it up and travels along. The amount of material fed in this way may be'changed by the adjustment of the lever Y, which as before described, varies the. distance of the pivots i; from the fulcrum of the lever S and changes the degree of movement imparted to the shaft K.

During the movement of the follower and wagon bottom rearward, the latter passes around the heads j onto the rack L ahd is drawn forward on said rack and upon the extension M thereof until the rearward movement ofthe follower is completed. When this occurs, the stop V enga es with the trip lever V", which disengages t e catch V and permits the spring arm V to shift the pawls T, so that the continued movement of the rock arm T will impart a reverse rotation to the ratchet wheels T and the shaft K, to which they are secured. This will. reverse the movement of the follower and wagon bottom, so as toreturn them. to the initial position and at the 'com letion of this return movement, the chain wi l disengage from the sprocket U in the manner above described.

The driver may then adjust the lever Q, so asto withdraw the chain P from the sprocket O and prevent further movement of the drive train.

During the travel of the sections G of the Wagon bottom, they are supported by the anti friction rolls (1, which enga e with't e tracks I and thereby reduce the friction and the amount of 'ower required to move the bottom under l d struction, I 'may employ the modified construction'illustrated in Fig. 8, in which .2 are the hinged fittings connecting the bottom sections G and projecting laterally therefrom, so as to leave spaces between said sections. z are shafts extending through the fittings z and forming pivots therefor and 2 are sleeves formed inshort sections arranged adjacent to each other upon the shafts 2. With this construction, the sleeves 2 rest upon the tracks and the material is prevented from passing between. the sections G by said sleeves which fill the spaces between said sections.

In order to regulate the amount of material distributed by the rotary distributing wheel, the retainer X is adjusted, so that the end of the tines a are nearer or farther from the path of the tines stcf the wheel. For

effecting this adjustment, a stop is provided for the rock arm t, which is preferably an eccentric collar t sleeved upon the bolt i which forms the pivot for. the rock arm F. This collar. t is held in different positions of adjustment byradial teeth t, which engage with a correspondingly notched hub t on the brackets; t. Thus, by loosening the bolt 29, the collar i may be rotated to change its relation to the rock arm t and thereby adjusting the retainer X into different positions.

As has been described, the bars G of the movable bottom are supported upon the tracks I by the anti-friction rolls (1 and when these members pass around the shaft K, they are supported by the rotating head j. The sprocket U for driving the movable bottom is of lesser diameter than these heads and to avoid friction, the latter are journaled loose upon the shaft K, so that they may turn at a different angular s eed. of catching upon t 0 ends of the tracks I when the bottom is traveling back towards its initial position, the circle of the heads j extends above the normal level of the bottom when sup orted on the tracks I, as shown in Fig. 9; his causes the members Gr to be lifted from the track in leaving and before ren aging therewith.

. en the follower is traveling rearward, the chain m is under tension and to provide the necessary slack in the return chain, the yielding lever o is connected to the end of the chain m, as has been previously described.

ad. In place of this con- To avoid danger In the return movement, the chain a is under tension and the load upon the chain m is rev flanges -a fork, the rock arms t, t

shifts the lever 0 and automatic lieved. This would tend to permit the chain m to drop in the loop the slack in the chain. A stop movement of the lever 0.

It is desirable to drive the distributing wheel at considerable speed, and where the driving is effected by the truck chain connection between the axis of said wheel and the sprocket on the ground wheel, the latter needs to be of a size nearly canal in diameter of the ground wheel itself, With such a construction, the sprocket wheel is so near the ground as to be constantly filled with dirt, which interferes with its 0 eration. To avoid this result, I have re need the diameter of the sprocket wheel 0, which is actuated by the ground wheel and 1 form a drive connection by the two chains P and R with the intermediate step u gearing, formed by the sprockets P and Such a construction not onl furnishes the requisite speed from the small er drive sprocket wheel,

but also this smaller drive sprocket wheel is better ada ted to cooperate with the rock arm P an chain P.

The construction of the rear bolster and of the bracket bearing a: is such. as to obtain great strength and rigidity. It is to be noted that the bracket m is attached by the flange ac to the side sills of the frame and by the a to the cross bars 10 and 'w. The latter are strengthened by the longitudinal members f secured thereto and. which are also connected to the cross bars D. Thus, the load which tends to buckle the axle downward and to twist the bracket bearing is resisted by the construction described, the cross bars w and 'w preventin the twisting of-the fittin 5c and the longitu inal bars f resisting the dexing of the bars to and w.

It will be observed that the rolls (Z are flanged, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and also that they are journaled in bearings on the cross bars G, adilacent to oneedge thereof. This prevents t e tipping of the bars G, as one edge is sup orted by the roll directly attached thereto an the opposite edge by the roll of the next adjacent bar, while the two bars are connlected to each other by the hinged fitting c.

What I claim as my invention is':

. 1. In a distributing wagon, the combination with a body and a distributing wheel at the rear end thereof, of a retainer comprising pivotally connecting with said fork and adapted tocarry the same from the position in front of said distributing wheel to an inclined position, the arm t having a slotted bearing tf for the pivot and a springw for holding said fork in either position of adjustment andfor yieldingly holding the same. in an inclined posithe teeth thereof, a cross bar on said connection.

- the forward end of said movable bottom 'chain engages, a

-2. In a distributing wagon, the combination with a body, a distributin wheel at the rear end thereof and a movab e bottom for feedin the load to said wheel, of means for variabIy feedin said movable bottom comprising a cran c driven from one of the ground wheels, a shaft connected to said hottom, a pair of ratchet rock arms for actuating said shaft, a pitman connected to said crank, a rock lever operated by said pitman,

a pair of links connecting said ratchet rock arms with said lever on opposite sides of the fulcrum thereof and means for adjusting said links towards or from the fulcrum of saidlever to vary the movement ofsaid ratchet arms.

3. In a distributing we on, a variable feed mechanism for the movab ie bottom comprising the crank S, the pitman S the lever S", the links T, T the rock arms T the pawls T the ratchet wheels T the rock arm Y having the links Y and Y connected to the links T, T and the pivots 1) connecting said links T, T with the lever S and having a slotted engagement with the latter.

4. In a distributing wagon, tion with a bodyand a distributing wheel at the rear end thereof, of a movable bottom for said body, an endless carrier chain connected with said bottom, a sprocket engaging said chain and adapted to feed the same, means for rotating said sprocket adapted to auto matically reverse the direction of rotation upon the completion of the rearward movement of said bottom to return the same to its initial position and means for disengaging said sprocket from pletion of the return movement adapted to automatically rengage upon the reversal of said sprocket.

5. In a distributin wagon, the combination with a wagon bo y, a distributin wheel at the rear end thereof, of a movable ottom for said body, a sprocket chain connected to extending rearward-therefrom, a sprocket at the rear endof said body engaging with said chain, a flexible return connection for said movable body, an idler wheel at the forward end of said body, around which said return connection is'passed, and a ratchet chain connection between said sprocket chain and return connection, whereby when'said bottom is returned, said engage from said sprocket, but will reengage upon the reversal of s'aidvsprocket.

6. In a distributing wagon, the combination'with a body and a distributing wheel, of a movable bottom and sprocket; chain at tached thereto, a sprocket withwhich said flexible return connection for said bottom, the connection between said sprocket chain and return crmnection passing around said sprocket on opposite sides, of

and

ratchet chain will disthe combinasaid chain at the compurpose set forth.

tion clearing the teeth of said sprocket and a tatcherwheel for engaging said cross bar, whereby in the rotation of said sprocket and ratchet wheel in one direction, said chain will be disen aged therefrom andthe further rotation of the wheel is permitted and upon the reversal direction of rotation, said ratchet wheel cooperating with said cross bar will immediately rengage said chain with .the sprocket.

7. In a distributing wagon, the combination with a body, of a distributin wheel and a movable bottom, of the chain for moving said bottom, comprising the sprocket chain m and return chain a, the sprocket U- having the ratchet wheels on opposite sides thereof, and a double chain connection between the sections m and n having the cross bars r bent to clear the teeth of the sprocket andada ted to engage with said ratchet wheels, su stantially as and for the .the rear end thereof, of a retainercom rising a fork, the rockarms t and t pivotal y connected with said fork and adapted to carry the same-from a position front of said distributing wheel to an inclined position, an

eccentric collar sleeved on the pivot for the rock arm 15 and forming a stop for the rock afm t which is shifted into osition by rotation and clamping means or holding said stop in different ositions of adjustment.

10. In a distributing wagon, the combina tion of a body and a reversible movable bottom therefor, of a sprocket at one end of said body and an idler wheel at the op osite end thereof, a chain connected to sal movable bottom and passing around said sprocket, an idler and a yielding connection between said movable bottom and the end of said chain,

leading direct to said sprocket, whereby slack 1s provided in said chain during the feeding movementof said bottom and automatically taken up during the return movement.

II. In. a distributing wagon, the combination with tlie body and a movable bottom therefor, of tracks over which said bottom is adapted to travel and rotary heads'at the rear end of said bottom around which said bottom passes, said heads being arranged to lift said bottom from said tracks, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN II. GARST.

Witnesses:v

C. -L. READ, J. F. SHEEN, 

